Lin Chaoyang had stumbled into the path of cultivation by sheer luck—after chancing upon a cultivation manual. Because of this, he held an unshakable belief in the power of serendipity.
Yet, when faced with his exuberant declaration about the secret realm, Qi Ping and the others fell silent.
None of the three were the type to blindly trust rumors of hidden treasures.
If a truly valuable secret realm existed, why would news of it spread so freely?
The sects and powerful clans would’ve long since claimed it—ordinary cultivators wouldn’t stand a chance.
In this world, good fortune rarely trickled down to the bottom. If it seemed to, it was likely honey laced with poison.
Wang Shan, steady and pragmatic despite his rough exterior, wasn’t one to trust hearsay lightly.
Nan Jie shared his skepticism—if anything, her wariness ran deeper.
As for Qi Ping? The mere mention of a “secret realm” made his skin crawl.
In his experience, anything involving those two words inevitably led to bloodshed—whether from the realm’s inherent dangers or the cutthroat competition among cultivators.
Right now, Qi Ping just wanted to tend his bees, farm his land, and steadily grow stronger. Adventure held no appeal.
Even without his awakened Druid abilities, he would’ve been content living a quiet life as a humble beekeeper, free from want.
Unfortunately, Lin Chaoyang, buoyed by excitement and his own naivety, missed the meaning behind their silence.
Not wanting to crush the young man’s enthusiasm—but hoping to gently temper it—Wang Shan chose his words carefully:
“Chaoyang, secret realms come in many forms. A rare few hold fortunes that can propel a cultivator to greatness… but those are exceptions.”
“Most are deathtraps—littered with killing arrays, set up by demonic cultivators, or prowled by high-level predators who slaughter for sport.”
“We still have time. Let’s gather more information before deciding. If the risks outweigh the rewards, we must think twice.”
To their surprise, Lin Chaoyang nodded earnestly.
“Brother Shan, you’re right—we should plan carefully! I’ll dig deeper and report back. Once we have all the details, we’ll strategize together!”
For a brief moment, Qi Ping and the others thought Wang Shan’s advice had sunk in.
Then Lin Chaoyang’s next words dashed that hope.
“We’ll make a foolproof plan, seize the realm’s treasures, and share the rewards!”
With that, he dashed off to chase more rumors, as if the opportunity might vanish if he hesitated.
His unshaken zeal left the trio speechless once more.
After a long pause, Wang Shan sighed.
“Was it a mistake to bring Chaoyang into the Fortunate Life Society? He grew up sheltered, never learning how cruel the world can be.”
“After his lucky break into cultivation, he met us. He’s never seen the true face of the cultivation world—the scheming, the betrayals. To him, most cultivators must seem… decent.”
“Sometimes I wonder if our kindness has done him a disservice.”
“Yet机缘 is real, however rare. Chaoyang’s entire path began with one. Who’s to say he isn’t blessed by fortune? If we stop him, are we cutting short his destiny? And what if we’re wrong?”
The weight of his words resonated with Qi Ping and Nan Jie.
None could claim absolute certainty—they’d simply chosen caution.
“If he comes back, we’ll gently dissuade him again,” Nan Jie said, uncharacteristically verbose. “But if he insists, we can’t force him otherwise.”
Wang Shan nodded. “Agreed. We’ve no right to dictate others’ paths. Speak our piece, then let conscience be clear.”
As they spoke, both glanced at Qi Ping. The contrast between the two young men was stark.
It wasn’t that Lin Chaoyang’s optimism was flawed—his sincerity and generosity were virtues. But in this world, could such innocence survive?
Even Qi Ping, Wang Shan, and Nan Jie couldn’t guarantee their own safety, let alone steer another’s fate.
With the matter shelved for now, the trio shifted focus. Qi Ping and Nan Jie soon set out for Qing Stone Market.
…..
The market lay at the heart of Qing Stone County, jointly managed by the Green Yuan Sect and three local clans: the Lius, the Zhus, and the Murongs.
These families were essentially extensions of the sect—founded by former disciples tasked with regional governance under Green Yuan’s oversight.
Their duties included commerce, taxation, rent collection, public order, and scouting talented youths for the sect.
In return, the sect conducted regular evaluations—minor audits every three years, major ones every decade—with rewards or penalties based on performance.
As one of the county’s primary revenue streams, the market thrived on taxes and entry fees. To ensure stability, it housed enforcement teams—including at least two Foundation Establishment experts—from both the sect and the three clans.
Given the county’s main industries (Black Minor Bees, Golden Feather Chickens, Spirit-Nurturing Fruits, Forest Horned Cattle, etc.), specialized trade guilds dominated the market. These also supplied related cultivation materials and daily goods.
Qi Ping and Nan Jie’s destination was a modest outfit called Zhiyuan Commerce, run by a genial, sixth-level Qi Refiner named Gao Zhiyuan—a contemporary of Wang Shan.
Most Fortunate Life Society members favored his shop. His prices beat the larger guilds’, and his knack for sharing useful gossip made him a valued contact.
The trip from their base to the market spanned nearly a hundred kilometers. Even for cultivators, the journey took hours. By the time Qi Ping and Nan Jie arrived—via backroads, without encountering any rogue cultivators—it was already afternoon.
(Golden Marrow Bees had scouted ahead, finding no threats.)
“Qing Stone Market… finally.”
Qi Ping exhaled in relief at the sight of the bustling, opulent bazaar. Beyond selling honey and restocking supplies, he planned to ask Merchant Gao about spirit beasts—prices, availability, anything useful.
With his Druid rank nearing Level 2, he’d soon qualify for a second animal companion. Better to prepare now than risk another trip later.
